Messi scored twice more in the league Sunday as Barca routed second-placed Atletico Madrid 4-1 at Camp Nou. The win sent Messi and company nine points clear atop the table and left Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho saying the "league title seems almost impossible" (via RealMadrid.com).

Those are strong words, and they came after yet another strong Barcelona performance. So are Cristiano Ronaldo and Real Madrid out of the title race?

There will be plenty of time to debate that. For now, let's look at how Messi and Ronaldo performed this week.

Messi's Latest Brace

Messi scored twice as Barcelona came from a goal behind to beat Atletico Madrid 4-1 in league play over the weekend.

Atleti's Radamel Falcao opened the scoring with a brilliant solo effort in the 31st minute before Adriano equalized for Barcelona with perhaps the game's best goal. Sergio Busquets put Barca ahead just before the break, and Messi added two more in the second half.

Messi's first, a tidy low finish after dribbling across the top of the box, came in the 57th minute (video above). He completed the rout with a poached goal two minutes before the final whistle.